Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has asked the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) to reverse decision on tariffs hike, describing it as illegal.
The call follows revelation that ESCOM hiked the tariffs without any approval from the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA).
In the statement CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa described the news as as it is illegal for ESCOM to make unilateral decisions.
“We are, therefore, inclined to believe that the Tonse Alliance Government is remotely controlling MERA to push the blame on ESCOM, following a backlash from the public over exorbitant charges, tariffs and levies on essential services and products such as water, electricity, fuel, cooking oil, etc.
NAMIWA: ESCOM Should pay back to consumers
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has demanded Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) to pay back to the consumers for ‘illegally’ increasing electricity tariffs.
This follows revelations that ESCOM board agreed to increase Electricity Tariffs without authorization from the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA).
MERA told the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources last week that ESCOM acted against its advice not to raise the tariffs in March 2021.
The development angered members of Parliament (MPs) who wondered how the electricity supplier could make unilateral decision on the tariff.
On the other hand, CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa demanded that MERA should take a disciplinary action against ESCOM management over what he described as “this embarrassing incident”.
Minister of Finance Felix Mlusu says Treasury will review taxes amid growing concerns by people in the country over punitive levies. Mlusu has made the prono
The Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has alleged that the dramatic increase in prices for edible cooking oil is a result of collusion among the producers in the country.
But the Edible Cooking Oil Association of Malawi (ECOAM) has dismissed the allegation, further challenging the Authority to provide evidence for its claim.
A senior official at the Authority on Sunday called
Nyasa Times expressing his disappointment with the way the local media is reporting on the contentious value added tax (VAT) on cooking oil.
The official, who sought anonymity, argued that contrary to the public view that the increase in prices of cooking oil was a result of the imposition of VAT on raw materials; the truth behind the hike is a collusion among the producers.